Distance power excavating-machine.



W. F. BRINTON.

DISTANCE POWER ExcAvATlNG MACHINE.

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l. i913.

W. F. BVRINTON. DISTANCE POWER ExcAvATl'NG MAcHmE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I, 1913. Y

Patented July 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WILLIAM F. BRIN'TON, oF WASHINGTON, IOWA.

DISTANCE ioWE'n EXcAvATIN'G-MACHINE.

Vby cutting off the hills from the embank ment and illing the valley adjacent thereto.

Another object of ythis invention is the production of a simple and efficient mechanism for not only cutting the bed of the road but also cutting the sides of the ditch after a ditch has been formed by means of the several scoops forming an endless chain as hereinafter described.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure.

l is a side elevation of the machine in operation showing an embankment in section.`

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 through a plurality of scoops or buckets used in connection with the present invention showing the relative position of the buckets Yas the same pass over and under the supporting cables. Fig. l is an enlarged vertical section through one of the scoops or buckets showing the manner in which the same are supportedy Vafter the scoops have passed beyond the hill which is being cut and are suspended over the valley or gully over which the device travels. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2 through one of the drivingwheels or conveyer wheels for the endless bucket chain showing the manner in which the same are supported, and the manner in which the buckets or scoops are carried thereby. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of one of the buckets or scoops Vused in connection with the present invention. Fig. 7 is a .longitudinal section of one the scoops or buckets Specification of Lettersv Patent.

Application filed November 1, 1913.

u tion.

Pathtd Jly 25, 1916.

sei-iai No. 798,741.

used in connection with the present invention showing' the manner in whichthe scoops are connected together. Fig. 8 is a ydetail perspective of one of the vhanger track sections used 1n connection with the present invention. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the forwvard end 'of one 'of the scoops lor buckets showingythe lmanner in which the front plow of the scoop may be closed over the front of the scoop or may be lowered as shown in dotted lines for' the purpose of digging as will be hereinafter described. Figyl() is a transverse sectional view through the machine showing the manner in which the track wires are braced intermediate their lengths. yFig; 11 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the scoop showing the means for holding the cutting plate in a closed posi- 'llhe present invention is adapted, as above stated, to be used in connection with grading roads land the like, and has especially for its object the cutting of a hill or embankment forthe purpose of rfillingin a gully or valley fromthematerial which has been cut from the side of the hill, thereby producing a Continuous grade as indicated by, the dotted line in Fig. l.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that the present device comprises an endless chain formed of a plurality of connected buckets 1, which buckets passover the respective conveyer wheels 2. These conveyor wheels are mounted at each end of the endless chain upon vertical standards 3, which standards 3 are supported upon yrollers or wheels L ofl any desired construction. It simula be understood that the wheels i if so desired may travel lupon tracks or may be mounted in any desired fashion without departing from the spirit of the invention. The wheels 2 -are mountedl upon the grade supporting aXles 5 and a driving shaft 6 is carried by one ofthe standards, 3 as is clearly illnstrated in Fig.K 5. This main driving'v shaft 6 carries a pulley 7 over which llU shaft 6 may be braced by means of a brace 11 or may be suspended in any suitable manner.

Each of the conveyer wheels 2 is provided with a. plurality of lap sides 12 of the same length as the links of the chain comprising the conveyer or digger buckets or scoops, and these wheels 2 are also provided with projecting lugs 13 for the purpose of fitting in the rear of the transversely extending shaft 14 of the conveyer scoops or buckets as hereinafter described. These lugs 1.3 will assist in holding the buckets or scoops over the wheels 2 in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The standards 3 are braced by means of guide cables 15, which cables may be secured at the desired distance from the standards 3 by means of stakes 16. A'plurality of track cables 17 are secured to the respective shafts 5 carried by the standards 3 at each end of the conveyer chain and extend between the upper' and lower layers of the chain of buckets. rihe free ends 18 of the track cables 17 extend outwardly and are secured to the stakesl@ for the purpose of holding the cables 17 in a taut relation. The track cables 17 are braced by means of the guide cables 19, which cables are connected to the standards 3 and engage the cables 17 beyond the point of engagement with the shafts 5, thereby efliciently bracing the same.

A plurality of track sections 2O are suspended from the track cables 17 above the gully or ditch which is adapted to be filled so as to support the buckets 1 as the same pass from the embankment as illustrated in Fig. 1. These track sections 20 are provided with hanger cleats 21, which hanger cleats 21 fit snugly over'the track cables 17 The track sections 20 lare provided with a plurality of eyes 22 which eyes may beplaced in any desired position upon the track sections to be out of engagement with the track cables 17. A plurality of the guiding cables 19 may be engaged by the eyes 22 for suspending the track section 20 in an operative position. It, of course, should be understood that as many of these track sections 20 may be employed as is desired to accommodate the circumstances under which the device is operated. Each of the track sections 20 is provided with downwardly extending side portions 23 which terminate in inwardly extending flanges 24, which flanges 24 constitute tracks upon which the rollers 25 of the buckets or scoops 1 are adapted to travel as will be more fully hereinafterrdescribed.

As above described the buckets or scoops 1 are all connected together to form a substantial endless chain, and each scoop comprises a body portion having a bottom which' is normally closed by means of a hinge door 26. This door 26 is provided with side flanges 27 and these iianges are beveled at their rear ends as indicated at 28. A spring pressed locking loop 29 is carried by the body of each bucket or scoop 1 and is adapted to tit snugly over the rear end of the bottom 26 for holding the door 26 in a set position upon the scoop or bucket 1. A compression spring 30 is carried upon each side of the bucket 1 and normally exerts an inward pressure upon the locking loop 29. lt will be seen that as` the door 26 falls to a closed position upon the bucket 1 when the bucket is inverted the beveled edge 28 will cause the locking link 29 to swing rearwardly and allow the top to come to a closed position whereby the spring 30 will force the link 29 to the position shown in Fig. 6 and hold the doorl 26 in a closed position.

r1`he front end of the scoop or bucket 1 is provided with an opening 31, which opening is normally closed by means of the plowing plate or door 32. This plowing plate or door is provided with a plurality of plow points 33, which plow points project beyond the upper edge 34 of the plow plate 32. A plurality of stop fingers 35 are carried by the door 32 and are adapted to fit in the notches 36 formed in the transversely extending bar 37 of the scoop or bucket 1 for limiting the -downward swing of the plow plate or door 32 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

The scoop` or bucket 1 is provided upon the tcp thereof with a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending rods 38, which longitudinally extending rods 38 carry at their rear ends the transversely extending shafts 14 above described. The rollers 25 are carried by the extreme outer ends of the shafts 14 for the purpose of rolling easily over the edge of the ditch which is being cut. Pulleys 39 are also carried by the transversely extending shaft 14 and these pulleys travel upon the track cables 17 as above described so as to hold the buckets 1 against lateral displacement from the track cables 17. lThe forwardly extending ends of the rods 38 are bent to constitute hooks 40, which hooksl are adapted to engage the transversely extending shaft 14 of the bucket placed in front of the same to constitute an efficient link connection for connecting all of the buckets together or in other words the next preceding bucket. A pair of longitudinally extending rods 41 are also carried near the bottom of the bucket 1 so as to not interfere with either the plow plate 32 or the door 26 when the same are being swung. The forward ends of the rods 41 are bent upwardly as indicated at 42 for engaging the forward ends of the rods 38 and constitute a brace therefor. rlhe rear ends of the rods 41 are secured to a shaft or axle 43 upon which axle or shaft are mounted the rollers 44 for the purpose of supportves ing the body of the scoop 1 as the same travels over the face of the ground as illustrated clearly in Figs. 1 and 7 Diagonally extending braces 45 are also secured to the axles 46 for the purpose of engaging the shafts 14 and also bracing the same and reinforcing the rear ends of the rods 38. By

considering'Fig. 6 it will be seen that a block 47 is mounted upon cach side of the scoop or bucket 1 so as to constitute an abutment for the outer stop fingers 48 carried by the bucket near each side thereof.

Flach of the buckets 1 is provided upon each side thereof with filling apertures 49 and within these apertures 49 is placed a plow 50 having its mold-board 51 extending into the interior of the bucket 1 for the purpose of throwing the dirt or earth out by the plows 50 into the bucket 1 when cutting upon' the sides of a cut which has been formed previously by the cutting plate 32 and the plow points 33.

It should be Aunderstood that after the plow has worked at a sufficient depth to allow the upper rollers 25 to travel upon the upper edge of the embankment as illustrated in Fig. 3, the entire mechanism may be shifted laterally which includes the standards 3 and the wheels 2 so as to cause the plow points upon one side of the scoops or buckets 1 to engage the side edge of the cut which has been formed such as illustrated in Fig. 3. By cutting along the sides of the hill it will be seen that the dirt will be thrown in through the apertures 49 in the buckets 1 and in this manner lill the same. As the buckets continue to pass longitudinally of the mechanism the earth will be automatically dumped from the buckets when the door 26' is released from the bucket. This door is released from the bucket by means of a stake or other suitable means 52 as illustrated in Fig. 1. It is preferable that a stake or other movable device be employed in order that the stake may be moved to different points after a certain point has already been filled with earth so as to control the time at which the buckets should be dumped. After the buckets have passed from the stake 52 and the contents of the buckets have been dumped therefrom the buckets will be carried over one of the wheels 2 and thereby cause the bottom 26 to fall down upon the bucket 1. "When the bottom 26 falls upon the bucket 1 the beveled edge 28 will force the locking link outwardly until the bottom 26 fits snugly upon the lower edge of the bucket 1, whereupon the latch will again spring over the bottom 26 of the bucket as previously described and hold the bottom in a closed position. The buckets will then continue over their path in an inverted position to the wheel 2 at the opposite end of the chain and then will be lready for a new operation.

It should be understood that any suitable means, such as a traction engine or driving means may be employed for moving the standards 3 laterally for the purpose of allowing the buckets to act upon the sides of a cut which has been previously made by the plow points For the purpose of holding the cutting plate 32 in a closed position a manually operated latch or hook is employed which is carried by the body of the scoop 1 and engages the edge of the door or cutting plate 32.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple and efficient device has been produced for the purpose of cutting the roads or the like, and the buckets may not only cut upon the lower face of the road, but after a trench or cut has been made the device may be shifted to either side to cut upon the sides of the embankment and at the same time carry the cut dirt from the plow and allow a continuous operation thereof, until the desired width cut has been produced.

It should be further understood that a very simple and efficient device has been produced for not only cutting the earth from the desired points, but also for automatically dumping the earth to fill in any cuts or gullys which are desired to be leveled in order to produce an eflicient grade.

As will be seen in Fig. 10 the track wires 172L may be suspended upon pulley blocks 18, which pulley blocks are braced or supported upon the transversely extending guide cables 19a. These guide cables 19a are supported upon posts 20a, and these posts 2()a are braced by means of guide wires 21a. lt will bev seen that the pulley blocks 18a will allow the track wires 1'?n to slide laterally to accommodate the lateral movement of the entire machine. lt, of course, should be understood that as many as desired of these bracing or suspending wires 19 may be employed along the length of the track wires 17a in order to relieve the weight o-f the upper buckets orV scoops from the lower row of scoops or buckets.

't should be understood that the openings 49 are formed at di'erent points relative to the height of the scoops 1 so as to have each scoop cut along a diiferent horizontal plane, as for instance the endless chain of scoops are divided. into several series of or seven scoops each, the first scoop of each series having the aperture 49 near the bottom thereof, and the last scoop of each series would have the opening near the top thereof so as to allow the scoops to cut along the entire inner face of the ditch.

lt, of course, should be understood that the present machine is adapted for scooping in order to form a ditch as well as being used for grading.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:-

l. A scoop comprising,` a body provided with. a hinge cutting plate upon one end thereof, a plurality of cutting points carried by the under face of said cutting,` plate, a transversely extending` beam carried by the bottom end of said body and provided with a plurality of notch portions formed therein, and a plurality of rearwardly curved fingere carried by the 'front tace ot said cutting plate and adapted to fit in said notches for limiting the downward swing of Said cutting plate relative to said body.

2. A scoop comprising' a body provided with a plurality of Side apertures, and plows extending through said apertures for eutting the eide of an embankment and directing the material into said body for automatically filling the same.

3. A scoop comprising a body provided with a plurality of apertures formed in the side thereof, plows carried byeaid body and provided with mold-boards projecting through Said apertures for directing plowed material into the interior of said body for automatically filling said body, and means `for facilitating the removal of material from Said body.

In testimony whereof l hereunto allix my Signature in presence of two witnesses.

lRvING L. MCCATHRAN, FORREST F. VRooMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

